Massive Metropica project finally moves forward

Construction of $1.5 billion Sunrise development could start in January 2015

The long-delayed Metropica development in western Sunrise is finally approaching the start of construction.

Work on Metropica, a $1.5 billion “city within a city” planned by Miami developer Joseph Kavana, could begin as soon as January 2015, Kavana’s attorney told the Sun-Sentinel. Metropica would have more than 2,000 condos, 300 town homes and enough commercial space to accommodate 11 Wal-Marts. It is nearly double the size of the nearby Sawgrass Mills mall.

The entire project would take about 10 years to build and require 5,000 construction workers. Earlier this week, Broward commissioners granted Kavana permission to develop an additional 9 acres of wetlands on the 50-acre site. Kavana must contribute $1 million to help create 20 acres of wetlands at Long Key Nature Center in Davie in exchange for the increased Metropica acreage. [Sun-Sentinel] — Eric Kalis